INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

I didn't understand what she meant and wanted to ask why, but again, something restrained me, it told me that I shouldn't ask something like that now... At least. I really don't like enigmatic statements like this and I don't understand why the gods in movies and in books also do stuff like that but who could complain.

After the effect of her words dissipated, I voiced another question that had been nagging at me from the beginning since I arrived at this strange but beautiful place. "Why am I--how am I here?" I asked, starting to feel a slight anxiety about the answer she was going to provide, feeling the dread I had felt once before.

"Don't worry, you didn't die or anything." She reassured me as she saw that I was fearing for the worst.

"While you were about to undergo the process of getting a new body, your current body was set to be severed and reconstructed. Doing that would liberate your soul to the astral world. And that would be exceedingly dangerous." She warmed me with a stern tone.

"Why? Is the astral world filled with perilous entities?" I asked as I did not know nor understand what that meant.

"Ordinarily, it isn't, or if it were, it would be in places of darkness and vengeance. But for you, the astral world is very dangerous. If you were there even for a moment, your end would be swift or if you were to stay alive then even worse."

I didn't understand why it was dangerous for me, as it's usually normal for others. I was about to ask her why, but it seemed as though she anticipated my question and answered it immediately.

"It's because you have someone watching you from afar. That being is far more powerful than you can comprehend and will do things to you beyond your imagination."

Initially, I couldn't grasp who she was referring to, but soon enough, a realization struck me, and my face turned pale.

She noticed my troubled expression and gave me a slow nod. "Judging by your reaction, I assume you have already encountered this being." I nodded as she continued, "Do you have any inkling as to what this being truly is?"

"...Baphomet. In my old world, we referred to that being as Baphomet."

"How was that being depicted in your past world?"

"For some, it was a deity revered for its balance of things, but for many, it was a dark entity responsible for countless malevolent acts."

"And how do you perceive it?"

I searched for an answer but struggled to articulate my thoughts fully. "Dangerous, dark, malevolent, chaotic, enigmatic, and many other things I can't put into words."

"Yes, that is precisely how you should view it. If you are not its ally, then you are certainly its adversary."

"While your body was being reconstructed, I sensed a connection to you and to the being watching you, so I decided to bring you here until your body was fully reconstituted."

Hearing her, I felt immense gratitude for what she had done. I thanked her several times until she stopped me.

"...Can you tell me your story? I'm curious to know about your origin and how you came to be here, in your own words, if you don't mind."

"Of course! I can tell you. But please, don't laugh at some of the things I might have done in the past. They are truly embarrassing."

"Yes, of course, I won't."

She said that, and I recounted some of my stories to her. After a while, she was laughing joyfully as she heard about the things I had done.

"Haha, haha! So you went to the bathroom to get yourself cleaned, and there she was, naked and ready to give you anything you wanted, not knowing you just wanted her to clean your body," she said, laughing again.

"Yeah... Emily was like that. She was always a little too enthusiastic whenever I asked her to help me with my bath... Now that I think of it, why was she?"

"Maybe she liked you or something similar. Servants often develop affections for their masters and would do many things for them," she suggested.

"...But I was only 9 back then. What could she have possibly liked about me?"

"You never know how people are until you see them doing extraordinary things you could never imagine," she said and burst out laughing again.

I watched her laugh and thought incredulously how, a few moments earlier, she was this holy goddess, seemingly pure and untouchable, and now she was laughing heartily, sharing secrets about human nature. But it was a pleasant sight.

"Haha, I'm sorry for that. It's quite unprofessional of me. It's just... it gets quite lonely here."

"I don't get many visitors, and those who come are usually seeking answers and blame me for inconsequential things."

"So it feels very good to have someone I can talk to freely without ruining my image of a perfect goddess," she said, repositioning herself comfortably on the floor pillow.

"It's okay. And if you ever feel the need to talk or get lonely, you can always call me."

"Are you sure? I might call you often, you know. And it is quite desolate here, so there won't be much to talk about."

"Of course I am. Who wouldn't be excited to be with such a kind and beautiful goddess? And about the desolation, we can always play games like Chess or Go or Monopoly to pass the time. It might even be fun."

She smiled warmly at my words and said, "Thank you. I would like that very much."

"I can also sense the sincerity in your words, so how about I give you a parting gift from me."

"No, thank you. It is already too much that you are helping me avoid Baphomet, so I won't ask for anything more."

"Aah... Hearing you say that makes me want to give you even more."

"...Alright then, instead of a parting gift, I will give you something else. Something much more valuable that will aid you on your journey."

"What do you mean by that? What is it that you will give me? If it's immortality or something like that, please don't. It will ruin the idea of a fulfilling life for me."

"Don't worry, I won't give you that. It will be much better."

She looked down at the coffee table, and I followed her gaze. Suddenly, 27 cards slowly became visible to me. The cards were facedown, with their backs completely white, devoid of any distinguishing features.

"Pick one of the cards and turn it face up."

I examined the cards and thought for a moment before choosing the last one and turning it face up.

PENETRATE